Best universities in the Netherlands 2024

About the Netherlands

The Netherlands is a non-Anglophone country, with approximately 95% of the population speaking English. This factor makes studying and working in the Netherlands convenient, comfortable, and enjoyable for international students. The Netherlands is open and tolerant, allowing everyone to express their opinions. It is strongly encouraged throughout your studies. Let’s find out why students choose to study at the top universities in the Netherlands.

Why study in the Netherlands?

The Netherlands is generally well-organized, has better value for money, is safer, and opportunities abound.

Affordable education

Compared to other English-speaking countries, such as the United Kingdom or the United States, studying in the Netherlands is relatively inexpensive. The government subsidizes higher education in the Netherlands, and tuition fees are relatively low. 

The country has a renowned educational standard and a comparatively lower cost of living. Pursuing an education in the Netherlands will provide excellent value for money. Depending on the institution, yearly tuition for a course or degree program starts at around €1,900 for EU students and €6,000 for non-EU students.

Groundbreaking teaching

The Dutch educational system maintains a high quality. Its universities are well-known worldwide for their well-designed, modern courses and facilities. The teaching style emphasizes teamwork. It makes it simple for international students in the Netherlands to get involved with Dutch and other international students.

Good personal relationships between professors and students have great value at Dutch universities. They hold most tutorials and seminars in small groups of 15-30 students.

Affordable living

The cost of living in the country is low compared to other Western European countries. You will require approximately between €800 and €1,000 per month. You can fund this by working part-time and managing your finance. If you are an EU student, you can work 32 hours per month and receive a 265 euros grant. You will also receive a student OV-Chipkaart for free of cost public transportation on weekdays and weekends.

Degrees taught in English

The Netherlands is well-known as the first non-English-speaking country where universities began designing higher education study programs in English to attract international students. In the Netherlands, over 2,100 English-taught study programs and courses are available, covering many fields and leading to a bachelor’s, master’s, Ph.D., diploma, or certificate.

The country is appealing. It has high-quality, affordable education in various disciplines in an international, open-minded country.

Top universities in the Netherlands

The most crucial factor to consider when considering studying is the country’s high quality of education.

Utrecht University

Utrecht University provides an innovative, high-quality, and future-proof education. The university has been at the forefront of educational innovation. It develops challenging programs for groups of extra-talented and motivated students to meet international demand. Several Utrecht initiatives exemplify this, including the University College Utrecht and the Utrecht Law College. With inspiring lecturers and ambitious students, the university constantly works to improve its education and it is one of the top universities in Netherlands for international students.

Utrecht University has graduated 12 Nobel Prize winners. Currently, the school offers 12 Bachelor’s degree programs and 98 Master’s degree programs in English.

University of Amsterdam

The university, located in the famous city of Amsterdam, is one of the most well-known universities in the country and one of the Top-Ranked Universities in Netherlands. Aside from its location, it is also notable for consistently ranking as the top university in the Netherlands. It also ranks for its numerous centers of expertise. The university has 20 priority research areas. They include- cultural heritage and identity, global health and development, quantum matter, and quantum information. It has over a hundred study programs taught in English and a strong international community of 3000 students and researchers. The university is an excellent choice for prospective students studying in the Netherlands.

With over 32,000 registered students, this is the largest university in the Netherlands. 

University of Groningen

The country’s second-oldest university, University of Groningen claims to have educated or employed a Nobel Prize winner, the first Dutch astronaut, and the first president of the European Bank. The university is also proud of its socially relevant research areas, which include energy, healthy aging, and sustainable society. 

It offers 55 bachelor’s degree programs and 111 master’s programs across 11 faculties and nine graduate schools. Unsurprisingly, it is popular as an active figure in international education, with over 4,225 international students participating in six Erasmus Mundus programs. Furthermore, 37% of its academic staff is global, and its international community includes more than 120 nationalities.

Leiden University

The oldest university in the Netherlands, Leiden University, is next on the list. Founded in 1575, it has established itself in various fields, such as medicine and humanities. Its 46 bachelor’s and 73 master’s degree programs span seven faculties and more than 40 research institutes. With these figures, the university particularly appeals to anyone interested in pursuing multidisciplinary studies. According to the university’s most recent statistics, it has 110 nationalities among its 2,252 international students.

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Founded in 1913, Erasmus University has since established itself as the best educational and research institution. It consistently ranks in various lists of the world’s leading universities. Its programs and research focus on health, wealth, governance, and culture. It offers a variety of international programs taught in English at the bachelor’s, master’s, post-experience master’s, and doctorate levels. All the programs are research-driven and address the university’s academic excellence goal. Like the previously mentioned institutions, Erasmus University Rotterdam has over a hundred nationalities in its student body.

Key takeaways

• The Netherlands offers affordable education and living, innovative teaching, and great universities.
• The Dutch higher education institution starts at around 1,900 euros for EU students and €6,000 for non-EU students.
• Most of the universities teach programs in English, as 95% of the population is English-speaking.
• Utrecht University, University of Amsterdam, University of Groningen, and more are among the best universities in the Netherlands.

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FAQs

Q1. How much is a master’s degree in the Netherlands for international students?

Answer- A Master’s degree in the Netherlands is affordable, with tuition fees averaging less than 14,000 EUR per year for international graduate students.

Q2. What is the eligibility for universities in the Netherlands?

Answer- Exams such as IELTS, TOEFL, NT2, and CNaVT are necessary for students wishing to study in the Netherlands. These exams are essential for admission to Dutch universities and a student visa to the Netherlands. You must take additional exams such as the GMAT and GRE when applying to specific courses.

Q3. Does the Netherlands reject student visas?

Answer- Student visas in the Netherlands have an acceptance rate of 99%. As long as you meet all the conditions, the immigration department will not reject the permit.